Compare towns
Acton vs Strafford vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acton | Strafford | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,306 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Acton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
36 minLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Strafford School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.